Friend gave me cracked windows key to activate windows usb

[Guest]

So my friend gave me a "legit" windows USB boot drive for my new PC and then sent me the key for it. All good. Windows working, awesome! Find out 2 weeks down the track that he gave me a cracked key because he couldn't find his legit one. Only reason I knew and asked him again is because windows defender detected hacktool win32 autoKMS which came back a couple times but finally it's gone for good. Anyway windows itself considers itself genuine and I have had no alerts at all apart from the hacktool detection. Says activated w/ key xxxxx
So he says the software is legit from his disc but the key is cracked off microsoft website and he has had that combo running on 2 of his PCs for 2 years no issues. Now I read somewhere that pirated windows can leave u open to having your credit card, passwords etc stolen. I want to know what the risks are for me and what I can do about it. I'm 15, built my first PC and don't have a lot of money, so if my current situation is secure I'll leave it at that. But I am actually really concerned right now, I understand hardware not software.

 

[daswilhelm]

go buy a legit copy of windows.

 

[glamdringfh]

You need to buy a genuine version of Windows.

I know the extra expense is not what you want to hear, but it is by far and away the best choice for your PC.

 

[13thmonkey]

you need to get a genuine version. Perhaps you can get it discounted through school?

 

[Dunlop0078]

This site does not condone piracy so this thread might get taken down before long. I dont know what the downfalls to having a cracked key are in terms of windows, but i will say if microsfot caught you with this and felt the need to prosecute they most certainly could what you have done is illegal. I would recommend you buy a legit key.

 

[13thmonkey]

This will be closed shortly, I want to give the OP an opportunity to ask about ways of purchasing.

 

[Guest]

go buy a legit copy of windows.

That's not very helpful. I was led to believe it was one but I don't exactly have the money to just go buyva legit one. I want one though. All I'm concerned about is security

 

[Dunlop0078]

go buy a legit copy of windows.

That's not very helpful. I was led to believe it was one but I don't exactly have the money to just go buyva legit one. I want one though. All I'm concerned about is security

I'd be more concerned with microsoft catching you using a craked key than I would be about getting a virus.

 

[Guest]

This will be closed shortly, I want to give the OP an opportunity to ask about ways of purchasing.

OK, so what's the best way for me to get a single use of legit windows for cheap. I don't want one of those shop bought USBs because they are for loads of copies and I don't need those. I need 1 legit copy.

 

[daswilhelm]

go buy a legit copy of windows.

That's not very helpful. I was led to believe it was one but I don't exactly have the money to just go buyva legit one. I want one though. All I'm concerned about is security

that is helpful, its the correct solution to your problem.

 

[Outlander_04]

Try joining the Microsoft insider program.

Also try contacting their phone activation line. Tell them your story. Im sure they will be interested in a successful unauthorised activation. Maybe if you help them they will help you

 

[Guest]

go buy a legit copy of windows.

That's not very helpful. I was led to believe it was one but I don't exactly have the money to just go buyva legit one. I want one though. All I'm concerned about is security

that is helpful, its the correct solution to your problem.

OK, well if I can't find someone with an old copy that's what I'm gonna have to do I guess

 

[daswilhelm]

go buy a legit copy of windows.

That's not very helpful. I was led to believe it was one but I don't exactly have the money to just go buyva legit one. I want one though. All I'm concerned about is security

that is helpful, its the correct solution to your problem.

OK, well if I can't find someone with an old copy that's what I'm gonna have to do I guess

an old copy of what? you need a fresh copy, one that hasnt been used yet...

take outlanders advice, call microsoft and tell them your story.

 

[g-unit1111]

go buy a legit copy of windows.

That's not very helpful. I was led to believe it was one but I don't exactly have the money to just go buyva legit one. I want one though. All I'm concerned about is security

that is helpful, its the correct solution to your problem.

OK, well if I can't find someone with an old copy that's what I'm gonna have to do I guess

an old copy of what? you need a fresh copy, one that hasnt been used yet...

take outlanders advice, call microsoft and tell them your story.

Yeah don't buy old copies of Windows. Any copy that has been already activated is not legit under any circumstances. Doesn't matter where you buy it from.

 

[Guest]

Well people I don't want to get prosecuted, and technically I have done nothing wrong but imply that I might keep using it. Having read your suggestions I am definitely going to get a legit copy of windows having talked with famiky . please don't take me for a pirate I thought it was genuine and would never have accepted the USB had I known. Also calling windows about it would just get me into a bucket of poo soo deep I Lt could ruin my family from stress. Getting friends in trouble getting me in trouble all of it and I never knew it was cracked until yesterday and have since stopped using it.

 

[Karadjgne]

Windows is free, in any version. You can dl an ISO directly from Microsoft if that's a route you prefer. Microsoft doesn't care what version of Windows you want, where you got it or from whom. It's freeware. All except for the activation code. That is Microsoft property and that you must pay for, one way or another, by authorized retailer, digital dl etc, so that Microsoft, in the end, gets its money. Anything less, and thats considered theft, in this case, digital theft, commonly referred to as digital piracy, and apart from not being condoned in any way by this site, is also 'bad form' and prosecutable.

There is only one possible solution, you must purchase, legitimately, a legitimate key and destroy all copies of the cracked one.

Personally, I think this should be a sticky, not deleted at all. Apart from sound advice, its also fair warning of consequences.

 

[g-unit1111]

Personally, I think this should be a sticky, not deleted at all. Apart from sound advice, its also fair warning of consequences.

There's already way too many stickies in this forum for this to be considered one.

If you don't want to pay for a license of Windows there's plenty of freeware operating system routes to take, you could download a copy of just about any Linux distribution like Mint or Ubuntu and then get a legit copy of Windows when you are able to.

 

[synphul]

Tom's Hardware doesn't condone 'workarounds' or use of commercial software by alternate means. Using software you didn't pay for is still technically pirating. The fact you used some random copy off of a friend to begin with unless it was strictly for the installation files accompanied by a key you paid for. That's Microsoft's intellectual property and to use it requires their permission obtained by purchasing a license of use. Using someone else's key/license is circumventing windows unless they're a wholesaler with permission to purchase bulk keys and sell them (which I doubt your friend has).

This thread will be closed since the solution is to buy a legit and legal copy of windows.